Sand question

[Brizo]

Is there such thing as too fine of sand? I feel like its so fine that it might interfere with their gills. I'm putting cichlids only


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[4D3]

I currently have sand, and I'm looking to remove it.

I use children's play sand which is ultra fine,I had no problems with the fish gold or anything.

The problem I had is, you know when you go to the beach, if you dig down in the sand and you hit that black stinky layer....that forms in the tank!

If you go for sand make sure you get 0.5-1mm crushed quartz or marble sand!

I'm looking at using ceramic tiles!

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[Brizo]

I kno it needs time to settle but I talked to a reliable source and was told and shown how it will never truly settle. So I bought a bag of red flint sand to switch out with tomorrow


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[duanes]

The problem with play sand, is it is very easily stirred up, can get into filters and can ruin the impellers in pumps and filters. This does not happen over night, takes a few months, but expensive repairs occur. I started with play sand, and this is what happened to my impellers. The cylinder shaft is pitted, and layers have worn off, making it unusable, nd making the pump usless.

Even with PFS it takes a few days to clear, even after rinsing.
I set this tank up a few days ago.

the next day using a sponge filter on my pump, and cleaning it daily

 

[4D3]

sorry but i think that your reliable source is completely wrong, i have play sand in and my water is crystal clear and it does settle - look at my pics...these were taken when the tank was at its messiest as you can tell from all the poop...but the water is crystal! (Also notice the 40cm catfish in there....no stir up!!)

Another thing about your tank...if your using sand you should only have 3/4cm deep!! if you have deeper you get some nasty bacteria forming a black layer about 2cm down, and if you disturb the sand the smell is like someone has just farted directly into your nose...

 

[4D3]

The problem with play sand, is it is very easily stirred up, can get into filters and can ruin the impellers in pumps and filters. This does not happen over night, takes a few months, but expensive repairs occur. I started with play sand, and this is what happened to my impellers. The cylinder shaft is pitted, and layers have worn off, making it unusable, nd making the pump usless.

been ising the sand for over 6 months...NEVER seen anything like that! maybe you need to clean more often...

Even with PFS it takes a few days to clear, even after rinsing.
I set this tank up a few days ago.

i gues it depends how you rise your sand!

I got a bed sheet, layed all my sand out about 1cm thick, and washed it until the water that came out the other side of the bed sheet was clear as when it went it, I never had any murking, i have never had any damage to any equipment! and i dont think it is luck...i know loads of people who use play sand.(not that im defending it im just saying!)

 

[Aquaticfan]

sorry but i think that your reliable source is completely wrong, i have play sand in and my water is crystal clear and it does settle - look at my pics...these were taken when the tank was at its messiest as you can tell from all the poop...but the water is crystal! (Also notice the 40cm catfish in there....no stir up!!)

Another thing about your tank...if your using sand you should only have 3/4cm deep!! if you have deeper you get some nasty bacteria forming a black layer about 2cm down, and if you disturb the sand the smell is like someone has just farted directly into your nose...

What your talking about is what happens when the sand bed is left undisturbed (not just deep) and it generates anaerobic bacteria in that dark colored layer.That will generate hydrogen sulfide gas and is what your smelling. It can kill fish.
BUT............................................................... If you do it properly it can be run whatever depth you like.


I run sand depths of 2 to 3 inches in most my tanks with no problems ever. The issue is that people do not disturb the sand bed enough. I do weekly water changes and I vacuum the sand and stir it up weekly when I do so. This will keep any gas pockets from happening. In planted tanks if you have heavy rooted plants in the sand bed it will oxygenate the sand bed as well and keep from having this happen. OR I also recommend MTS snails to live in the sand bed and they constantly keep it churning and help keep this from happening. Other things that can help is fish that dig. BUT the biggest is self maintanence and stirring the sand bed up by vacuuming it when you change the water weekly.

 

[doomiedee]

sorry but i think that your reliable source is completely wrong, i have play sand in and my water is crystal clear and it does settle - look at my pics...these were taken when the tank was at its messiest as you can tell from all the poop...but the water is crystal! (Also notice the 40cm catfish in there....no stir up!!)

Another thing about your tank...if your using sand you should only have 3/4cm deep!! if you have deeper you get some nasty bacteria forming a black layer about 2cm down, and if you disturb the sand the smell is like someone has just farted directly into your nose...

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I agree 100% my play sand gets kicked up and falls right back to the bottom.


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[Tiller11]

Play sand is too fine.... It compacts onitself and actually gets hard. Thats when the anerobic pockets happen. And i have had multiple filters get messed up using playsand. The top layer is jus light enough that it can get sucked up and i washed it the same way i washed the pool filter sand i have now.... If you guys using playsand washed a bucket of that compared to pool filtersand you would be amazed at 1 how much dirtier playsand is 2 how much longer u have to clean it and 3 how mucj you loose because its so light.... I had like 3/4 full bucket of sand to start with n when i was done washing it i had about a 3rd left cause its too light and small graind.... Nir saying its necessarily the "wrong" type of sand... But in the long run its not the best option.... Poolfilter sand or some other thicker heavier graind sand it a better alternative overall

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[Tiller11]

Do a search on the site

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